Population news from May

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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

MAY 2020

Director's message

As per the old adage, ‘fine words butter no parsnips’. At least not on
their own, which is why PM supports grassroots projects and individuals
across the world focused on empowering people to improve their lives and
local environments through our Empower to Plan [3] (E2P) programme.

I am particularly proud of the support we and you, our supporters, are
providing to three current E2P projects KOMB GREEN Solutions [4] and
Ghettoh Clean Youth Group [5] working in the slums of Nairobi, as well as
Jiwsi [6] providing family planning and life-choices advice to vulnerable
young women in North Wales.

Along with my colleague, Florence, we were welcomed [7] into those Nairobi
slum communities to hear and learn first-hand about the challenges faced
and overcome by young women and mothers. Greater educational opportunities,
access to safe contraception options, and making their immediate
environment cleaner and greener were their expressed wishes. Exactly what
KOMB GREEN and Ghettoh Clean are providing, with our and your support - and
in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak.

It is humbling and shaming for those of us living in a rich, developed
country to find hotspots of deprivation and unmet need here in the UK too,
as being tackled in North Wales by Jiwsi in the face of declining funding.

Judy Ling Wong, Honorary President of the Black Environment Network and a
member of our Expert Advisory Group [8], paid PM a great compliment in the
interview she gave for our latest magazine: "Everything Population Matters
does, as I see it, is actually focused on the love of the human being, its
quality of life, and its survival into the future." Empower to Plan proves
that motivation in practice.

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

Join us for a live Q&A!

We're excited to announce we are co-hosting a virtual Q&A session on
Facebook with To Kid Or Not To Kid director Maxine Trump and other
panelists at 8 pm GMT on Tuesday 16 June! This powerful and deeply personal
new film aims to dispel the myths and prejudices surrounding the choice to
be child-free in a world of growing human numbers. We'll also be giving
away a limited number of free "tickets" for the film's online premiere.
RSVP below if you'd like to take part in the Q&A, and we'll be announcing
soon how to obtain a free ticket.

RSVP [9]

POPULATION

Empowerment or 'kicking down'? The truth about population concern

In this blog post, Population Matters Director Robin Maynard responds to
environmental writer George Monbiot's denigration of population campaigners
in a recent _Guardian_ critique of Michael Moore's new film 'Planet of the
Humans'.

Read more [10]

Small families help slow UK population growth

The latest UK population estimates from the Office for National Statistics
reveal a continued reduction in the growth rate, largely driven by fewer
births as a result of people choosing to have smaller families. By
mid-2019, there were close to 67 million people living in the UK

Read more [11]

ENVIRONMENT

Demanding action on biodiversity

To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May,
Population Matters wrote to governments across the world to urge action on
population. Our message is simple: continued mass extinction is inevitable
unless we address human numbers. Our Head of Campaigns and Communications,
Alistair Currie, explains more.

Read more [12]

The astonishing climate effect of empowering girls and women

This _We Don't Have Time_ article explores Project Drawdown's research on
how removing barriers to girls' education and expanding access to family
planning are hugely powerful climate actions due to their effects on
population growth.

Read more [13]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

How much would it cost to end the worst gender inequalities?

A new UN report summarises last year's Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, which
aimed to boost global progress on women’s rights and sexual and
reproductive health. The meeting revealed that ending maternal deaths,
gender-based violence and unmet family planning needs is affordable and
within reach, but desperately needs more funding.

Read more [14]

In Yemen and around the world, obstetric fistula strikes the most
vulnerable women

This UNFPA article shines a light on obstetric fistula, a traumatic birth
injury that is common among child brides. On top of the resulting pain and
trauma, and the stress of becoming a new mother, many fistula survivors are
stigmatised and shunned

Read more [15]

Quote of the month

_"Educating and empowering women and girls and providing family planning
information enables more people to choose the size of their families. These
are the kind of positive actions governments can take, and must take if
we’re to address the biodiversity loss we’re facing. "_

- Dr Jane Goodall, Population Matters Patron

TAKE ACTION

Urge your government to include population solutions in global
conservation efforts

We've recently launched a new e-action that allows you to write to your
country's environment minister in two quick and simple steps. Already close
to 1,000 people have urged their government to support the inclusion of
positive, choice-based population solutions in the Post-2020 Biodiversity
Framework. If you haven't already taken action, please add your voice!

Write to your minister [16]

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© 2020 Population Matters

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